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As part of ongoing efforts to expand demand for U.S. seed potatoes in Central America, Potatoes USA held a field day in Miraflor, Estelí, Nicaragua in May 2026. The event brought together local growers, importers, government officials, and U.S. representatives to evaluate U.S. seed potato performance under real production conditions—turning earlier trial work into visible, measurable results.
Hosted at the farm of Freddys Osorio, the field day featured commercial plantings of U.S. varieties Soraya and Golden Globe, alongside a Dutch control variety.
Participants included farmers from Estelí, Matagalpa, and Jinotega, as well as representatives from Nicaragua’s plant protection agency (IPSA), USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), and the U.S. Embassy, demonstrating strong institutional support for continued collaboration and market development.
The event provided growers with a firsthand opportunity to assess variety performance in the field, including yield potential, tuber size distribution, and overall plant health. Among the varieties evaluated, Soraya generated particularly strong interest due to its combination of yield, tuber quality, and resilience under local disease pressure. Growers also responded positively to its appearance and cooking quality, which were highlighted during an informal tasting following the field evaluation.
Beyond showcasing variety performance, the field day created an important platform for dialogue. Growers openly discussed production challenges, market needs, and timing constraints—particularly the need for earlier access to high-quality seed during the August–October planting window, ahead of typical European supply availability.
These conversations reinforced the competitive advantage for the U.S., including the ability to provide reliable, high-quality seed potatoes earlier in the season, helping local growers improve production outcomes and strengthening long-term demand for U.S. seed potato exports.
The Estelí field day highlights one of the core strengths of the U.S. Seed Export Program: connecting U.S. growers with international markets through hands-on demonstration, trusted relationships, and proven performance. As Nicaragua continues to emerge as a growth market, this type of in-field engagement will remain essential to building long-term, repeat demand for U.S. seed potatoes.